Chain for mining-machines.



I Patented July 3, 191?.

H A KUHN CHAIN FOR MINING MACHINES. APPucAmw man MAY-1a. 1914.

l awm "may a. noun, or PITTSBURGH, rnnnsvnvan'ini.

I To all whom it may concern:

' cutters or a suitable chain suitable rolled State of Pennsylvania,

Be it known that'lI, HARRY A. KUHN, a

citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the countyo'tAlleghenyand have invented a new and useful Improvement in Chains forMining-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact descri tion thereof.

y invention relates to chains for mining or like machines where saidchains are driven by sprocket wheels, and are mounted in guides, andwhere the flights carrying the dislodging devices are connected at'intervals to said chain and adapted to enter the mass of coal anddislodge the same.

The object of bit on the end of a cutting tool as if the bit were a partof a chain traveling in tension and to provide for the relieving of thestrain on these flights and'for theholding of the links in alinement, sothat the links are held from bearing against the chain guides andcreating riction which retards the movement of the chain .and increasesthe power required to drive the same.

' In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a. plan view of a portion ofa chain show ing my improved .chain arranged-therein; Fig. 2 is anoutside edge view partly in section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line3-43, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line M Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is amodified form of my invention.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 designates guide which is made up ofsections and comprises the bottom plate 3, the channel member 4 and theangle member 5. The angle-member 5 is supported on the channel member4;- and has the downwardly extending flange 6 which leaves the opening 7for entrance to the space 8 containing the chain 9. The

chain 9 is made up of links in the usual manner connected by the bolts10. The lower links'll are thicker than the upper links 12 and saidlower links are adapted to rest on the bottom plate 3 of the cham guide.The lower links lfnave the lugs 13 which project out through the opemn 7and pivotally secured to said lugs by t e bolts 14 are the flights 15.The flights 15 have the arms 16 which carry the idle rollers 17 whichbear against the flange 6 of the angle member 5. The idle rollers 17 areheld within the bicnam ron MINTNG-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

my invention is to make the flight as effective as a chain guide.

Patented-July a. we *2.

Application filed May 18, 1914. Serial No. 839,336.

furcated end portion 18 of the arm 16 and the lower portion of saidbifurcated end has i the PIOJBCtlOIl 1.9 which extends within'theopening 7 and is adapted to bear againstthe lower link 11 of the chainand thepivotal point of said link. 11 at this point has the flat face 20with which the projection 19 engages. The flights 15 are provided withthe cutpreferably at ters 21 which are secured thereto by bolts or ifdesired, said cutters may be formed integral with the flights. Theflights 15 form part of a conveyermechanism in connection with a'mining-machine such as set The said link forth and claimed in anapplication of mine of even date'herewith, Serial No. 839,325, and saidflights move over the pan 23. Where the chain is employed in connectionwith the dislodging and conveying away of coal which has been undercut,and then separated along its lines of cleavage, so as to drop into theundercut, the said chain is adavanced into the coal and the flights withthe cutters 21 pass in under the coal and thecoal is dislodged, and, bythe movement of the flights 15, is moved along the pan 23 to be conveyedback to the pitcar in the rear of the machine, all as clearly set-forthin the above application. As the force the flights backwardlyand byhaving flights enter the coal, the strain will tend to the arms 16 whichengage the chain guide, l

I obtain a greater levera e corresponding reduction 0 the strain on theflights as well as on the chain carrying the same. Where the flights aremoving on the straight jections 19 engage the links 11 and prevent thechain from buckling. or kinking, and the links of the chain are heldfrom moving in frictional contact with the inner face of the flange 6,thereby reducing the friction, and the power required to drive thechain. The arms 16 are slightly curved so as to conform substantially tothe curve of the In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of myinventionin which the arm 16 projects rearwardly sufliciently to engagethe succeeding flight carrying link at a point between the pivots. Theprojection 19 engages a shoulder 20 on the link 21% By engaging the linkbetween the pivots there is no opportunity for the buckling of thechain.

What I claim is:

1. In a mining-machine, the combination and'there is a I portion of thechain-guide, the pro- 4 of a chain-guide, a chain therein,

flights pivotally connected to said chain,

and reargaglng said chain-guide and said chain at polnts between thechain-link pivots of the following link.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination of a chain-guide, a chainthereln, flights chain, rearsaid chain.

3. Ina mining-inachine, the combination of a chain-guide, achaintherein, flights pivotally connected to said chain, inwardly en- .tendmgarms in said flights engaging said I chain-guide, a projection onsaidarm enterextending arms on said flights ening said chain-guide, andengaging the lower links of said chain.

4:. In a mining-machine, the combination of a chain-guide, a chaintherein, links on said chain having lugs projecting out from saidchain-guides, flights pii'otally connected-to said lugs, rearwardlyextending arms on said flights engagingthe chain-guide and projectionsonsaid arms engaging the links point between the pivots on said chain at aof the link. succeeding flight-carryin link.

In testimony whereof, I the'said nnr aio A. KUHri-ihave hereu' to set myhand.

. ,HARRY A. KUHN.

- Witnesses:

JOHN F. WILL, RoBnD. To'rrEN."

